Friday, February 26, 2016

The birds of the the forest don't wait until the sun is nigh to begin singing. They sing out loud and clear long before dawn, serenading the world with their song. How great is their faith that the sun will return and their confidence that their song should be heard. Be like the birds today and give no thought to the circumstances around you as you lift up your head and sing your song. Know that you were given your song for reason and a few cloudy days will not dull its sound.Have faith that you are headed in the right direction and even if you cannot yet see the sun, it will arrive on time.

Today, I am grateful for the dusting of snow that beautified the world under the cover of darkness, for the bright sun that peeks between the clouds and for the inevitable coming of spring.

I am grateful for clean, fresh air to breathe, for sparkling snowflakes in the sun and for squirrels that always entertain me. I am grateful for the majesty of trees as they stand silent waiting for the arrival of spring, for the mystery of seeds that hold a whole lifetime within their coat and for fresh soil teeming with life.

I am grateful for family and friends, for old acquaintances and for strangers I meet along the way. They have all helped shape me into the person I am. I am grateful for the changing of seasons that allows us to anticipate and celebrate the best of each.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you be like the birds of the forest today and sing out your song for the world to hear as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

I have recently taken up photography. The idea of using my photography as the basis of inspirational quotes has been kicking around in my head for while. I decided that it was time to put that into action and share my first one with you. It is my hope that it will bring joy to your life and inspire you to reach for your dreams.

I've always loved nature and found great peace and inspiration from immersing myself in the natural world. It is my solace and the place where I feel most at home. About seven months ago, my husband gave me a point 'n shoot camera and I began my journey into photography. As one might imagine, it led me to trying to capture the incredible beauty I saw in nature.

As my family watched my interest turn to passion, they bought me a DSLR camera for Christmas. It opened a whole new world for me. Although I am still very much an amateur photographer, I am thrilled with the images I have managed to capture. It seems only fitting that I should share them here, as it speaks directly to following your dreams.

I had no idea that photography would become a passion and a source of joy and inspiration for me. Sure, I had said I wanted a camera to take pictures of my flowers for my Garden site, Maine Garden Ideas, but I had no idea that it would open up so many possibilities for me.

Sometimes, we become so conditioned to see ourselves in a certain way and assume we already know what we are capable of that we overlook the opportunities around us. We obediently accept our preconceived notions of who we are and where we need to go.

Sometimes, the dreams we think we have or the goals we have painstakingly set aren't what we think they are. Sometimes, they are a reflection of what others have taught us we should want or strive for. If we are lucky, we may stumble upon something new that can take us further than we ever dreamed we could go.

Consider your life today and step out with new ideas. Get outside your comfort zone and try new things. You may discover that inside you lies the passion and talent for something you have never considered before. I will be eternally grateful for that first camera that showed me a world of possibilities.

Today, I am grateful for digital cameras that allow photographers to try and try again until they get it right. I am grateful for the vast resources online that teach me what I need to learn, for the patience of experienced photographers who answer the same newbie questions again and again, and the patience of my family as I ramble on about photography.

I am grateful for the marvelous world of nature from which I can draw my inspiration, for eyes that see beyond the surface and look for the beauty locked inside every scene and for the ability to share that with you.

I am grateful for a family that supports my growth, builds my confidence and always makes me feel loved.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May you always the see the beauty in life as you go forward in the direction of your dreams.

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

We can learn much from nature. To produce fruit, trees require sun, soil, nutrients and water. Planting a seed or tiny sapling is not enough. Without moisture and sun, the seed will not sprout and the sapling will quickly wither and die. So too with our dreams and goals. While setting our intentions is important, they must be nurtured and cared for so that they may bear fruit. Without care, our goals and dreams are nothing more than wishes cast to the wind.

If your goal is to become more successful in your chosen field, you must also work to build the skills and set the stage for that success. Take a class, make new contacts, get involved in projects that allow you to shine.

If you want to earn more money to provide your family with the comforts of life, or want to earn that important promotion, you must be willing to do the work to reach the goal. Become a model employee, treat others with respect and show that you are worthy of promotion.

If you want to improve the relationships in your life nurture those you love, be supportive and show them the love and respect you desire.

The goal or dream doesn't matter. It is the care and feeding of that dream that will bring it to pass. May you find ways to feed and care for your dreams and goals today that they may bear bountiful fruit.

Today, I am grateful for another day to pursue my goals and dreams. I am grateful for steady progress, continued drive, and patience as I watch the seeds grow and bloom that I may enjoy the fruit of my labor.

I am grateful for sunny days and starry nights, for lightning bugs that flit through open fields, and for daisies waltzing to the summer breeze. I am grateful for the song of birds, the call of frogs and the gentle tinkle of wind chimes. I am grateful for leaves that dance and whisper secrets to the wind.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you work joyously towards your dreams and goals today that you may see them come to fruit.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

If you are like most of us, stopping by to check out what your friends are up to on Facebook is a daily occurrence. In fact, 757 million of us do it every day. For some, Facebook is a way to keep in touch with family and friends, but for the vast majority of us, it seems to have become a dumping ground for all the bad things that happen in our lives.

A quick scroll through your newsfeed will likely present you with the woes of the world - including the personal pet peeves of all your friends. You may rationalize that this is no worse than reading the paper or watching the news and that it really doesn’t affect you. According to a study conducted by social scientists from Cornell, the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and Facebook, it does.

This study revealed that when people are exposed to negative posts they in turn begin to use more negative words in their own posts. When they are exposed to positive posts, they begin to use more positive words. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that some of that carries over into real life.

So what is a person to do when their Facebook timeline takes a negative turn? You could get off Facebook, of course, but for many of us that’s not a realistic option. We have friends and family to keep up with and aren’t willing to close that line of communication. But, there are other things you can do.

·Create a group for like-minded people – or family – and use that as your primary means of communication.

·Block negative posts from your newsfeed. If one of your friends insists on spewing the negative on your newsfeed, take the initiative to click the down arrow, located at the extreme right of their user name on a post, and click “Stop seeing posts, but stay friends.” Your friend will never know that you aren't reading all her posts and you can still contact her whenever you want.

·Find new friends. Actively seek out new friends who share your interests and outlook on life.

·Start posting positive posts. Research shows that your positive posts are infectious too. They may be enough to turn things around for that Negative Nelly in your group of friends.

Today, I am grateful for a full night’s sleep, for a refreshed body and a clear, sound mind. I am grateful for a hot shower to wash away the sleep, for clean clothes and for shoes.

I am grateful for my computer that serves me well, for spring rain that refreshes the earth and for the magic of seeds that burst forth into new plants.

I am grateful for the family I was born into, for the family I created and for friends I have made along the way.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop to share my day. May you find much success in eliminating the negative from your world. Remember the words of Joyce Myer today, “You cannot have a positive life and a negative mind.”

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Many of us face the temptation to use our intellect to figure out how the Universe (or God) will bring our intentions to pass. According to the law of abundance, it doesn't matter whether we understand the process or not. We don't need to worry ourselves with how things will fall together or how the Universe will rearrange itself to bring our desires to pass.

For those of us accustomed to doing everything on our own, this concept can be a difficult hurdle to scale. I know. I struggle with it too. Yesterday, I set my intention for financial abundance. Although I didn't post the specifics of that here, I did set specific goals privately. If you are following along with me, take the time to refine you goals and write them down in specific terms today. Think of it as drawing a roadmap to your future and always remember that if you don't know where you are going you will end up somewhere else.

I intend to let the Universe work to bring my desires to pass, as I go about my normal routine and hope that you will too.

Today, I am grateful that I can set my own schedule, that I go to bed and rise when I choose, and that I have the freedom to choose when and where I work. I am grateful for the freedom to choose what I will write, for the insight to recognize good opportunities and the wisdom to choose wisely.

I am ever-grateful for the wonderous Universe that fills me with awe, for the ever-changing clouds that travel across my sky and for tiny leaves as they unfurl in spring. I am grateful for the sounds and scents of nature, for the inquisitiveness of squirrels as they venture near my garden chair and for timid deer that venture from the woods.

I am grateful for family and friends who I would be lost without, for strangers I have yet to meet and for all those who have crossed my path and helped make me the person I am today.

And, I am grateful for you, dear reader, as you stop and share my day. May your journey be light and your day be bright as you learn to let the Universe work its magic on its own.

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About Me

Nannette Richford lives and writes from her little country home in Maine. To find out more about the services she offers, visit her Writing Services site. If you are in the mood for a little gardening inspiration, you can also find her at Maine Garden Ideas.